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Economics

Time to start factoring in an RBA rate cut?

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 6 OCT 2017
Perhaps the RBA should start thinking about bringing the official cash rate to another level of "emergency" before weakening household spending turns into a vicious cycle.

Profit margin squeeze

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 5 OCT 2017
This risk is becoming a vicious cycle whereby weak consumer spending prevents businesses from lifting selling prices, eroding their profit margins which, in turn, would prompt firms to cut back on other costs.

Interest rates on ice

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 4 OCT 2017
Given its optimistic forecasts and the lag in the monetary transmission mechanis - around 12 to 18 months for Australia - the RBA should at least be tapping at the brakes a tad by now.

Expansion everywhere

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 3 OCT 2017
The manufacturing PMI survey releases show that the world's biggest economies (and Australia) are all "floating" above 50.

Trump-flation returns

BENJAMIN ONG  |  FRIDAY, 29 SEP 2017
Given where the US economy is currently at - near or full employment - these returns are not needed.

China industrial profits surge

BENJAMIN ONG  |  THURSDAY, 28 SEP 2017
The Communist Party of China says the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy refers to building a moderately prosperous society, deepening reform, advancing law-based governance and strengthening Party self-governance.

As clear as it gets

BENJAMIN ONG  |  WEDNESDAY, 27 SEP 2017
Fed chief Janet Yellen charts course towards policy normalisation - not so fast, not too slow.

A matter of assumptions

BENJAMIN ONG  |  TUESDAY, 26 SEP 2017
Using the Taylor Rule formula and given the RBA's assumptions, the official cash rate should be at 2.125% by 2018.

Big four ditch ATM withdrawal fees

ALEX BURKE  |  MONDAY, 25 SEP 2017
ANZ, CBA, NAB and Westpac have collectively abolished ATM withdrawal fees for non-customers.

Transparency to the max

BENJAMIN ONG  |  MONDAY, 25 SEP 2017
Central banks - led by the Fed - are this time making sure financial markets understand what they think they heard and realise that what they heard is what the central banks meant.